DAILY- HOMILY

DAILY-HOMILY is a Catholic-based Scripture and Homily Reflections. It is a great source for scripture readings, homilies and reflections for Weekdays, Sundays and Holydays of Obligation. Subscribe to this list and you will receive a free, informed, down to earth and illustrated homilies focusing on the readings on Weekday & Sunday Masses, Liturgical Services or personal reflection. And best of all it's a FREE service. To subscribe or unsubscribe send email to: dailyhomily@gmail.com

Thursday, August 25, 2005

FRIDAY 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

AUGUST 26, 2005FRIDAY 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-8Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to pleaseGod, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the LordJesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gaveyou by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that youshould be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; thateach of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holyand honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not knowGod; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or takeadvantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as wehave already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to beimpure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects thisinstruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

MATTHEW 25:1-13"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who tooktheir lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them werefoolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but didnot take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars alongwith their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and theyall became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out:`Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virginswoke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise,`Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "`No,' theyreplied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go tothose who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they wereon their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins whowere ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door wasshut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open thedoor for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't knowyou.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or thehour.

REFLECTIONWe know that it's important to be prepared, yet many of us fail to doso. In today's gospel, the parable of the ten virgins is one of manyinstances where Jesus tells his followers to prepare not only for hisdeath and resurrection but also for his Second Coming. Jesus warnsthat we must mimic the wisdom of the five virgins who wisely stocked upoil for their lamps. When the bridegroom arrived, they were ready toattend to the wedding celebration that was at hand, while the fivevirgins who were not prepared were left out, their waiting time wasted.

Early Christians thought Jesus would come again within decades afterHis Ascension to Heaven. But as time and centuries passed, many becamedisheartened. Some angrily left the Church while others sought toabolish the Church, rationalizing that Christ's promise would never befulfilled or worse, Christ did not really exist at all. To this day,atheists and unbelievers scoff at the so-called empty hope ofChristians waiting for Jesus' Second Coming.

As the parable of the ten virgins understates, waiting can bedifficult and exhausting. Waiting can wear us down and make us loseour focus. Waiting can severely test our patience, which can result indiscouragement and dejection.

But as much as waiting can be a test of our stamina, today's parablereminds us to be prepared while waiting. We can manifest this in ourpersonal lives by praying everyday with our family and friends, sharingwhat we have with our less fortunate neighbors and even strangers, andcontinue our devotion to God as a community, through the HolyEucharist.

The Lord did not instruct us to sit and idly wait, rather He urges usto wait actively. We may sometimes tire from waiting but we must nevertire from preparing. The Lord will come unexpectedly but while we waitfor Him, we need to remain prudent, loyal and faithful to Him, andactively practice what He preaches.

PRAYER"Lord, make me vigilant and attentive to your voice that I may heedyour call at all times. May I find joy in your presence and delight indoing your will."

PRAYER REQUESTSWe pray ...- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for theunborn.- for the speedy recovery of Erlinda.- for the personal intentions of Jane Figuerres-Guillermo.- for the safe travel of Lydia and JP- for the personal intentions of the Pe Family- for God's healing and special intention of Donna V.- for the special intentions of Evangelyn.- for the personal intentions of Revilyn.- for the personal intentions of Charina.- for the eternal repose of the soul of Antonio D. Marcos, Jr.Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. Mayhe rest in peace.- for the special intentions of the Autor family.- for the speedy recovery of Antonio.- healings for Judy, Nathan, Binnie's sister, Rich M, Paula, Lloyd,Mary, Ann, Dawn, Edith, Harry & Alan.- for a safe trip for Vera & B.- for my husband Master Gunnery Sergeant James Adrian who is in Iraq tocome home safely to us and for the safety of all other servicemen andwomen.- for the birthday intentions of Babes, Phet and Aris.- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.- Birthday: Edwin C. Inocentes- Birthday: Jennifer Jones Tan- for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked ourprayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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